Tag Archives: TVA 2019 IRP

TVA Board of Directors Approves 2019 Final Integrated Resource Plan

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Board of Directors approved the 2019 Final Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) at its quarterly business meeting in Knoxville, Tenn. After a Record of Decision is published in September, TVA will retire its 2015 IRP and begin using the 2019 IRP as its long-term plan to meet energy demands over the next two decades.

TVA took input from stakeholders and the public during the 2019 IRP drafting process to make sure it continues to provide reliable, affordable and clean electricity throughout the region. Following the release of the draft IRP on Feb. 15, 2019, TAEBC submitted comments in April. The final 2019 IRP and associated Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) were published in July. 

TVA updated its previous IRP to allow for a more dependable and flexible power-generation system that effectively leverages more renewable energy sources and distributed energy resources. According to the 2019 IRP’s Executive Summary, TVA found:

  • There is a need for new capacity in all scenarios to replace expiring or retiring capacity.
  • Solar expansion plays a substantial role in all futures.
  • Gas, storage and demand response additions provide reliability and/or flexibility.
  • No baseload resources (designed to operate around the clock) are added, highlighting the need for operational flexibility in the resource portfolio.
  • Additional coal retirements occur in certain futures.
  • Energy efficiency (EE) levels depend on market depth and cost-competitiveness.
  • Wind could play a role if it becomes cost-competitive.
  • In all cases, TVA will continue to provide for economic growth in the Tennessee Valley

For more information about the 2019 IRP, please visit TVA’s website.

TVA publishes 2019 Final Integrated Resource Plan

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) has released its 2019 Final Integrated Resource Plan and associated Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The IRP will guide TVA on how to best meet energy demands over the next two decades. 

During the IRP drafting process, TVA took input from stakeholders and the public to ensure it continues to provide reliable, affordable and clean electricity to the region. Following the release of the draft IRP on Feb. 15, 2019, TAEBC submitted comments in April. 

TVA updated its 2015 IRP to create a more flexible and dependable power-generation system that effectively leverages more renewable energy sources and distributed energy resources. According to IRP study results outlined in the Executive Summary, TVA indicated:

  • There is a need for new capacity in all scenarios to replace expiring or retiring capacity.
  • Solar expansion plays a substantial role in all futures.
  • Gas, storage and demand response additions provide reliability and/or flexibility.
  • No baseload resources (designed to operate around the clock) are added, highlighting the need for operational flexibility in the resource portfolio.
  • Additional coal retirements occur in certain futures.
  • Energy efficiency (EE) levels depend on market depth and cost-competitiveness.
  • Wind could play a role if it becomes cost-competitive.
  • In all cases, TVA will continue to provide for economic growth in the Tennessee Valley.

TVA’s Board of Directors will discuss and consider the IRP recommendation during its August meeting. Following board approval, a Record of Decision will be published. 

TVA webinar presents progress and next steps for 2019 IRP

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) hosted a public webinar on June 5 to discuss updates on the 2019 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) and accompanying Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Both the IRP and EIS are being finalized and should be released June 28.

During the webinar, TVA provided an overview of comments received during the public comment period, highlights of additional computer modeling completed in response to public comments and a review of next steps to finalize the IRP recommendation. There was also a short Q&A session.

TVA released its draft 2019 IRP on Feb. 15, 2019, which initiated the public review period that concluded April 8. In April, TAEBC submitted comments to TVA.

In the webinar, TVA announced it received public comments on a variety of topics ranging from energy resource options to environmental impacts. Some of these comments include:

  • Support for distributed energy generation, demand reduction and increasing storage capability
  • Desire for increased and earlier adoption of renewable energy
  • Concern over small amount of energy efficiency in portfolios

The public comments helped inform TVA’s sensitivity analysis and are considered in the development of the IRP Recommendation. TVA also revised the EIS to address substantive comments on environmental analysis. The public comments and responses will be appended to the Final IRP/EIS.

The webinar also revealed next steps regarding the 2019 IRP:

  • TVA will host a Regional Energy Resource Council Meeting covering the 2019 IRP from June 26-27 in Chattanooga, Tenn.
  • A public listening session will be held June 26, where the public is invited to share comments as the Energy Resource Council forms their recommendations.

TVA intends to request approval of the IRP Recommendation from the Board in August 2019. Once approved, a Record of Decision will be published.

To learn more about TVA’s 2019 IRP website and to view the published webinar, follow this link.

Deadline to submit comments for TVA 2019 IRP Draft

TVA is planning its power-generation system for the next 20 years, and your thoughts will help shape the final plan. Your input will impact the electricity you use in the future and the quality of life in the Valley.

TVA released its draft 2019 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) and draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on Feb. 15. The 2019 IRP is a comprehensive study that provides direction on how TVA can best deliver clean, reliable and affordable energy in the Valley over the next 20 years. As part of the study, TVA is preparing a programmatic EIS to assess the natural, cultural and socioeconomic impacts associated with the IRP.

TVA invites you to provide comments about the plan. TVA will offer numerous ways for you to learn more and to provide input. Check out the interactive report at this website. You can submit those public comments here until April 8.

After public input is incorporated, the final IRP and EIS will be available to the public and then presented to the TVA Board of Directors for approval. Once approved, a Record of Decision will be published.

The IRP and EIS will help shape TVA’s power system over the next 20 years. You have the power to make a difference in the future of your electricity and life in the Valley.

TVA releases draft Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) and invites public feedback

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) released its 2019 draft Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) on Feb. 15, 2019. TVA is currently inviting public stakeholders for feedback on the draft through April 8, 2019. TAEBC will submit public comments for the final IRP.

The IRP provides a long-term vision for how TVA can best meet the Valley’s need for power during the next two decades. According to the draft, the IRP will impact how TVA supports environmental stewardship, encourages economic development, and offers low-cost electricity in the area.

As the utility industry is evolving rapidly, this IRP will improve TVA’s ability to create flexible power-generation systems that will ensure reliable power at an affordable cost. The IRP will also inform TVA’s Long-Range Financial Plan.

TVA is updating its 2015 IRP due to vast changes within the utility industry, including increased access to natural gas, heightened attention on energy conservation efforts, and lower costs of renewable generation. As the nation’s largest public power provider, it is imperative for TVA continually seek out new solutions the region’s energy needs.

This IRP has been under development since Feb. 2018, when scoping efforts first identified issues relevant to the public and provided the foundation for the current draft. During the spring and summer of 2018, TVA began the development of model input and framework process, which involved finding and creating scenarios, resource options, and business strategies.

In the fall of 2018, TVA analyzed and evaluated the performance of their 30 resource portfolios that were identified during the previous modeling process. Throughout this projected 18-month journey, TVA has actively engaged external stakeholders, like TAEBC, to share their assumptions, opinions, and expertise to create an IRP that will benefit all Tennesseans.

In April 2018, TAEBC submitted comments to TVA as part of the initial IRP drafting process. With these comments, TAEBC reaffirmed our commitment to support TVA as it takes steps to address the ever-changing utility marketplace. The purpose of these comments is to illustrate how TVA can best meet future electricity demands with access to economic development data. The guidance we provided included:

  • Ensure there is a collaborative, public, open stakeholder process for developing the IRP.
  • Resource planning should include both TVA-built resources and procured third-party resources; as well as take into consideration customer-sited and demand-side management resources.
  • Correctly valuing distributed energy resources (DERs) is critical to integrating the benefits they offer to both demand and supply side operators. Valuing a stack or system of DERs is a challenge that must be addressed as the net benefits may increase when certain technologies are used together.
  • Consider how the IRP might encourage or discourage economic development, capital investment and jobs in our region from the advanced energy sector.

TVA will hold public meetings throughout the state over the next month to present the plan, answer questions, and accept written comments for the IRP. According to the IRP timeline, TVA will complete public meetings by April 2019, release the final IRP to the public in summer 2019, request approval from the Board in August 2019, and publish a Record of Decision soon after.

To learn more, sign up for TVA’s public webinar on Tuesday, Feb. 26 from 11:00 to 11:45 a.m. Follow this link to register. The recorded version will be available on TVA’s website.